Note-Worthy: Late Intermediate Piano Book

Johnson has curated a selection of beloved hymns and spirituals that actually sound like piano music rather than hymnal transcriptions. Each arrangement gives students rewarding material to perform at recitals and competitions while building genuine repertoire they'll want to keep playing beyond the lesson.

Reverent and warm without being heavy-handed. These arrangements honor the spiritual tradition of each hymn while offering pianistic substance, creating an atmosphere of quiet dignity that invites both performer and listener into the music.

Late intermediate pianists seeking meaningful repertoire beyond method books and studies. Students preparing for recitals, competitions, or church performance will find accessible yet substantial arrangements of hymns and spirituals they actually want to play.

• Let the harmonic language breathe. These arrangements honor the spiritual and emotional weight of each tune, so resist the urge to rush; allow rubato to serve the melody.
• Balance the independence of both hands carefully. Johnson writes complementary accompaniment figures that support rather than compete with the tune, so clarity comes through listening to voicing, not dynamic force.
• Explore the combined settings (like Holy, Holy, Holy paired with Schubert's Holy Is the Lord) as opportunities for textural variety rather than doubling; think about what each voice contributes.

Build a recital segment around three or four of these pieces for a thematic program exploring American sacred music and spirituals. They also work beautifully as preludes, offertories, and postludes in worship settings where the pianist needs material beyond standard denominational hymnals.

• Voicing and balance in block chord arrangements
• Stylistic interpretation of hymn tunes across registers
• Legato pedal technique with inner voice awareness
• Musical phrasing that respects textual and spiritual content
• Sight-reading of varied harmonic progressions within familiar melodic frameworks